The Importance of Healthy Food For Kids

Almost all fruit and vegetables are great for adding nutrients to your child’s diet. When buying fruit and vegetables, focus on those without added sugars. Fruit juices and canned versions often contain added sugar. Always read nutrition labels when you go grocery shopping.

Vegetables are harder to get your child to eat, and many canned and frozen varieties have high sodium levels. Try to choose different colors of vegetables to represent different nutrients.

Avoiding trans and saturated fats

Aim to limit your child’s total intake of fats and oils. This includes mayonnaise, salad dressings, sauces, and homemade low-fat products. Choose products that are low in sodium, such as nonhydrogenated peanut butter. When choosing breads, pastas, and other grains, choose whole grains, as they tend to have less sodium. Also, limit your child’s intake of high-fat dairy products, which may include nitrates.

Plant oils are another source of fat in a child’s diet, but these fats should be kept to a minimum. Choose high-quality oils for baking or stir-frying, such as extra virgin olive oil. For dipping bread or using as a finishing oil, extra virgin olive oil is ideal. Avoid hydrogenated fats, such as palm oil, as they can harm your child’s health.

Limiting sugary drinks

In Maryland, the legislature passed a bill limiting sugary drinks served with kid’s meals. The bill passed the Senate with bipartisan support and is now moving to the Assembly. But how can we get more Californians to limit sugary drinks in their kids’ diets? The state’s media studies group put together a brief, and AAP and AHA endorsed the bill. But why is this legislation necessary?

Adding a tax to sugary beverages is an effective way to curb the amount of sodas and other beverages consumed by children and teenagers. It has been shown … Read more